The past few years The Soul Train Awards have sort of faded from our collective memories just like the legendary show itself. I don’t know about you but I could never get with the Shemar Moore version (even though he might be nice to look at.) And the show itself sort of ran its course since it was no longer the only game in town for black folks (both audience and acts). Anyway, BET has teamed up with the new owners of The Soul Train brand to present the awards on their networks. It will air Sunday night on its flagship network ( also known as the home of gyrating women and misogynistic men in videos) and Centric—a newly repackaged BETJ/BET Jazz aimed at an older audience (which I have no opinion on since it’s not available in my area). Will you be watching?
The synergy with Soul Train makes sense because Centric actually airs old episodes of the Saturday morning dance classic. Although I can’t tell you the last time I watched this award show, I am planning to tune in to set my DVR because this year special honors go to Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson. (But I know a lot of you are more interested in that Toni Braxton/Trey Songz tongue exchange). While Miss Chaka sometimes provokes the one eyebrow up response with some of her costume choices her vocal skills are never in question—she can still blow down the house. Seeing both a tribute to her (which is de rigeuer at these types of show) by Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Ledisi and Fantasia is bound to be the highlight of the night—unless Chaka performs herself. But I might be wrong since there’s also a tribute to The Gap Band by Raheem DeVaughn, Keith Sweat, Kandi Burress, and Ginuwine (among others).
The awards themselves aren’t as interesting—maybe that’s why Beyoncé didn’t bother to show up. She isn’t the only marquee name to skip the awards in the past few years. Maybe because the winners seem I don’t know…predictable. But hey it can’t bad as boring as the American Music Awards. But as a sister who grew up glued to the television on Saturday morning I get a little sad when the brand is so easily dissed and dismissed. I was hoping that the new owners would find a way to make it relevant to future generations (nothing so far). Watching it fade makes it seem like a part of history has now become irrelevant. And I don’t know about you but I’m still longing for the exciting that love, peace and soul brought us weekly.
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